The Poultry Keeper

Green Pig · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Somerset

Right in the middle of my chicken run i have a very boggy area - due to natural surface flow. I've tried putting deep holes in (obviously very thin ones) but they colapse quite quickly.
So i am thinking - if i plant a chicken friendly plant/flower/shrub/bush/tree in the puddle it will soak up the excess water.

So water sort of plant etc is chicken friendly and likes a boggy claylike soil? Anyone with any ideas?

mojo · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:44 am Post subject:

dont worry about plants send me the water

Bhindi · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

In July I was given a bunch of flowers that also had one of those bamboo shoots amongst it. On the demise of the flowers I then put it in my pond, so its had nothing but water and its thrived, so maybe bamboo is happy to have a 'soggy end' ??

Green Pig · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Somerset

Would you like it bottled or piped? If it's a long term requirement then i suggest piped.

I know somewhere where i can get a 50m hose for about £14.

I think it's about 65km to the coast. 20 reels a km so we're talking about £18,200, plus 10% Fee (to cover petrol and the sandwhiches for the goold lady wife while shee leans out the back of the car laying the hose). If i pour it all into the channel you could stick a hose in your side near Cherbourg, et voila!

Do you want to pay by cash or cheque?

mojo · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

what no credit........seriously if its really wet look at pond marginals at the garden centre or look locally at what grows well in damp areas...........mace,reeds,,willow,iris,bamboos,bullrushes etcbut check they are edible for animals

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3194 Location: Monmouthshire

Dig a small pond and then you have constant water for the chicken. I have a very small stream running through one of the runs and the chicken paddle and puddle about in it with obvious enjoyment.

chook-in-eire · Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 76

Birches and willows are good at soaking up water. Willows are particularly easy to plant - just cut some stakes during dormancy (c. Nov.-Feb), anything from finger-thick and two feet long upwards and push deep in the ground, about a foot apart. Take cuttings from willows that grow in similar conditions in your area. They'll grow quickly and take up a tremendous amount of water.

chook

mojo · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:02 am Post subject:

and you can plant willows to form hedges,arbours,wind breaks etc